So why is the 2012 Ladera Cabernet—made from almost entirely from Howell Mountain fruit, from an incredible vintage—sitting pretty at $34.99? I honestly can't tell you. Maybe it's because no one knows how good the Ladera holdings in Howell Mountain are. Or maybe it's the pride that winemaker Jade Barrett takes in making a serious wine for a reasonable price. Or maybe it's because Ladera is an overlooked gem in a sea of Napa alternatives. For whatever the reason, I'm not going to complain. We tasted the 2012 vintage at our staff training yesterday and I was just floored by the quality of this wine. Dark, fleshy fruit cloaked in fine tannins, bits of earth, and in total balance, with enough gusto to go the long haul in your cellar. It's a whole lotta wine for $34.99, and it's made primarily from Howell Mountain grapes, harvested during a great vintage.

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So you've got your tickets to Thursday's cocktail class with Jennifer Colliau, and you've already imagined what the Evite will look like for your first soiree of 2011, but is your bar stocked? K&L's spirits buyers, David Driscoll and David Othenin-Girard, have been working furiously over the past year to build an incredible spirits selection that includes exclusive whiskey bottlings, oak-aged Gin and a wide variety of specialty liquors, liqueurs and cordials to help you up your home mixology game. Visit our Spirits Journal for up-to-the-minute information on our newest booze. In the meantime, here are our picks for the Top 10 Spirits to start 2011.

10. Firelit Blue Bottle Coffee Liqueur (750ml) A new release from the Bay Area's own St. George Spirits made with Blue Bottle coffee and Chardonnay-based brandy. Pure roasted coffee aromas and flavors that will make any pick-me-up cocktail sublime. And lets not even talk about White Russians.

9. Zubrowska Bison Grass Vodka from Poland (750ml $22.99) A stunningly smooth vodka particularly suited to citrus-based cocktails or the Polish favorite, Tatanka, an unfiltered apple juice. More characterful than your average clear spirit, but less overtly flavored than other vodka, this has notes of vanilla and chamomile.

8. St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur (750ml $31.99) This liqueur, made with elderflower blossoms gathered in the Alpine countryside by an army of Frenchman on bikes, adds distinctive character to any cocktail. Simply elegant with Brut Champagne or sparkling wine, and heady in the Montparnasse with Laird's Apple Brandy, lemon juice and a splash of Sauvignon Blanc.

'Tis the time of year where we all take stock--of goals, mistakes and, if you're anything like me post-holiday season, depleted wine collections. Replenishing your wine stores is easy at K&L, even if you're on a budget. To get you started, we've put together a list of our 10 best selling red wines under $25. Tomorrow, the whites!

10. 2009 Pascual Toso Malbec Maipu Valley ($9.99) K&L's Susan Thornett says: "It's interesting to taste a really expensive wine and to try to figure how much of the wealth of winemaking and vinegrowing expertise, perfect fruit and state-of-the-art facilities cost out. So that's how they achieve such richness, fine structure, body, velvety texture and approachability. But inevitably someone always points out, Yes, but Pascual Toso can do that for 10 bucks."

6. Urbanite Cellars "Redart" Red Blend ($9.99) Another value from Luis Moya's Urbanite label, and a staff favorite. K&L's Doug Davidson sums it up best: "What a great everyday, all-around drinker! This delicious Cab/Syrah/Zin blend is just the thing for BBQ season...or for Tuesday night pizza."

5. 2007 La Maialina Chianti Classico Riserva ($19.99) A 92-point Chianti Riserva? Parker's Italian wine reviewer Antonio Galloni nailed it when he wrote: "When you factor in the price, these are some of the most stunning values to come out of Tuscany, or anywhere for that matter."

4. 2008 Étoile du Rhône (Stephane Vedeau) Côte du Rhône ($10.99) David Driscoll, who writes K&L's Under the Radar column (and is also one of our amazing spirits buyers) says: "A steal of a deal while it lasts...this '08 from Vedeau is fantastic--mouthfilling fruit, peppery spices and a long finish make for a top-notch bistro-style wine at a friendly price."

3. 2008 Bonterra Cabernet Sauvignon Mendocino-Lake County ($11.99) K&L's Wine Club director, Alex Pross, knows a good deal when he sees one. He says: "The 2008 Bonterra Cab is the perfect example of wine that over-delivers. This wine has juicy red fruit with great balance and subtle hints of vanilla and spice. The finish is long with good lift and there's just enough acidity to make this a perfect food wine. A great everyday Cab that's organic to boot."

1. 2005 Terra da Vino "Essensze" Barolo ($19.99) A 92-point Barolo for only 20 bucks? You can see why this has topped the charts here at K&L since it came in. Italian buyer Greg St. Clair says: "This is a full-bodied wine, with lots of dense, forward fruit, a touch of earth and a classic Barolo structure...It has enough fruit to enjoy now, but it's also got plenty of life ahead of it, too.

Top 10 lists are everywhere you look these days, and we at K&L are not immune to their draw. Top 10 lists can be fun retrospectives, but too often in the world of beer and wine, they're chock full of rare or obscenely expensive items that few people can afford or find. (Case in point: My favorite beer of the year, the Mikkeller "Beer Geek Brunch" just sold out.) But not here! I asked K&L's beer buyers Steve Greer (Hollywood) and Bryan Brick (Redwood City) to pick their Top 10 Beers of 2010 that you can still buy, and it's packed with some pretty fantastic selections.

Fantome Noel (750ml $16.99) I have a soft spot for this brewery and its "Old World" styled beers. Far from traditional though, this beer has a beautiful spice, a sour note and a dry finish.

Mikkeller "From/Via/To Christmas Porter (750ml $14.99) I really love trying the beers from Mikkel and Mr. Keller. This is the first of the From/To Christmas Porters and it was a hit at the last Hollywood Christmas beer tasting, and it is one of my favorites. Not much left.

Isastegi Sagardo Naturala (750ml $9.99) Cider doesn't get the recognition it should, and for the question of "what to drink with Indian food" this is the perfect match. This cider comes from Spain's Basque country and uses more than a dozen local apples varieties, with fermentation taking place in old, large oak barrels. Bottled unfiltered.

2007 Etienne Dupont "Bouche E. Dupont" Cider (1.5L $27.99) A magnum of anything makes a statement, but the cider inside this bottle is outstanding no matter how it's packaged. A rich mousse and mouthfeel, it tastes of pure apple and has a never ending finish. Again spicy food (particularly Indian food) is the perfect match for this, but it is fine all by itself.